after being Mistress of my Master's house; and he set about working hard and bought himself free; and then he bought me free, and married me: but he did not like me to pray; he was kind about every thing but that he beat me for going to Meeting. One night, after I had been out to a Prayer Meeting in the bush, my Husband was gone to bed and to sleep: I knelt down to pray to the Great Massa to change his heart. My heart was quite full, and I cried to God very earnestly. Presently, I felt the bed shake; and my poor Husband, trembling, got out of bed and knelt down by my side, telling me to go on and pray that God would have mercy upon him and save him from hell. After that, he did not beat me any more for going to Meeting; but went with me, and the Word spoke to his heart: and now you see God is so good, that he has made him a Deacon of the Church. They lived together, a delightful pattern of a Christian Pair, for many years. They could neither of them read: and she was so anxious to learn, that she used to come into town, from her house several miles distant, for me to teach her; and the last time I heard her she could just manage to get through one verse-Bless the Lord, O my soul! and all that is within me bless His Holy Name. She clapped her hands for joy, at the accomplishment of this longaimed-at task. As she learnt a letter or two of the Alphabet, she would go home and teach her Husband, endeavouring that he should keep pace with herself. Her sweetness of disposition was a great blessing to her Husband, whose temper was naturally hasty: she used to say of him sometimes-"Poor ting, him pirit too hot much need for praying God to keep it." One day that he had spoken rather improperly to his Minister, she came to me weeping with distress-"Oh me got great trouble: only think that Satan should tempt him so, to vex my dear Massa's heart. Better a millstone hang about him neck, and cast him into the sea, than offend a Servant of God." Speaking to her one day of the mysterious providence which had removed the commencement of her labours, she said, first Mrs. Coultart to heaven just at the "You know the Great God have a garden, and when His fruit is ripe He comes and gathers it: this, according to my weak thought, is the reason.' This idea was certainly,IN HER, original.—On finding one of the Missionaries' Wives considerably dejected, she said, "What vex you?" and being told, in reply, that it related to internal fears and conflicts, she jumped up and said, “Thank goodness you tell me so! Me glad, because me feel just the same myself, and me fraid to say me so bad." I am very sorry to say that I was deprived of the benefit of her experience during the closing scene of her life. She was taken very ill at her own house; and, from the superstitious objections of those around her to any means being tried for recovery, excepting prayer, her fever soon increased beyond the possibility of remedy. She was brought to town in a most dangerous state, and the news of her indisposition then first reached me. She sent to request to see me; and, being unwell myself, I deferred going to her till the evening, when she was speechless. She looked at me in the most earnest manner, laid her hand on her heart, and then pointed upward, looking as if longing to depart. She expired that same night. Proceedings and Entelligence. BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Committee have published the following Table, and remark upon it: This statement is the most correct that can be given from the information now possessed by the Secretary: there are many blanks, which future communications from abroad will probably enable him to fill up; but the bare inspection of the List will shew what great reason we have for thankfulness on account of the blessing which has been laid upon our imperfect labours. The column appropriated to Schools is subdivided into three; for Male, Fe male, and Sabbath Schools. In the next column is inserted the number of Individuals added to the respective Churches, during the last year for which the ac counts have been furnished: those for Jamaica are extracted from the Minutes of the Association held in April last; but several of the Churches are not included in that account, and not a few of the Stations have been subsequently formed. The expenditure is calculated on the average of the last two years; but that for Jamaica will, in all probability, be considerably higher this year than before. From each Hemisphere, the calls for more Labourers are loud and incessant: more has been and will shortly be done 20. Spanish Town.. 21. Garden Hill. 22. Passage Fort. 23. Kingswood. 24. Old Harbour.. 25. Ebony, Savannah. 26. Hayes, Vere. 27. Mount Charles J.M. Philippo John Andrews 1.. forming the work of Catechists. :::: to the various Churches, who may be regarded as usefully per N. B. There are at least Two hundred and fifty Leaders attached :: :: :: : :: £.. 3526 730 171 1100 35. Crooked Spring. 36. Savanna la Mar 37. Ridgeland, 10 miles.. 38. Falmouth.. is very anxious to return to Java. :::::: Joseph Bourn Robertshaw ::: -: 101 :::2 306 2847 670 1 135 780 60 716 *Mr. Bruckner is now at Serampore, superintending the printing of the Javanese New Testament; but The Stations printed in italics are subordinate to those which precede them. The figures denote the distance. GOSPEL-PROPAGATION SOCIETY. THE Society has recently adopted a course relative to the Estates under its direction in the Island of Barbadoes, which will be highly satisfactory to its Members. The following particulars are given in a Circular lately issued. Object of the Codrington Trust in Barbadoes. General Codrington gives and bequeaths his two Plantations in the Island of Barbadoes, and part of his Island of Barbuda, to the "Society for the Propagation of the Christian Religion in Foreign Parts," erected and established by his late good Master King William the Third; and desires that the plantations should continue entire, and 300 Negroes at least always kept thereon, and a convenient number of Professors and Scholars maintained there, who are to be obliged to study and practise Physic and Chirurgery, as well as Divinity, that by the apparent usefulness of the former to all mankind they may both endear themselves to the people, and have the better opportunity of doing good to men's souls whilst they are taking care of their bodies. But the particulars of the Constitution he leaves to the Society composed of wise and good men. Measures in Progress for Emancipation of the Slaves on the Codrington Estates. The Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts -who feel, as deeply as any part of the community, the duty incumbent upon a Christian People, to put an end not only to the odious traffic in Slaves, by which this country was so long disgraced, but also to the great evil of Slavery itselfhave, of late, been exposed to some obloquy as holders of West-India Slaves: and it cannot be denied that the Society are TRUSTEES for the Codrington Estates in Barbadoes-that those Estates are cultivated by Slaves-and that their produce is received by the Society for the purposes of such trust; and expended, according to the provisions of General Codrington's Will, in the support of Codrington College in that Island. But surely the acceptance of a trust which took place more than a century ago, when the great question of Negro Slavery had excited but little attention even in the more religious part of the community, is hardly to be brought forward as a charge against the present Conductors of the Institution; who, finding themselves in the character of Trustees of West-Indian Property for a specific object, and that a highly-beneficial one to the interests of Christianity and the West-India Colonies, cannot feel themselves at liberty to abandon that trust, but are bound to make the wisest, best, and most Christian use of it. Three different plans of proceeding suggest themselves to persons in such a situation: 1st. They may relinquish their trust but it is not difficult to shew that the interests of Humanity and Religion would be rather impeded than promoted by such a measure. 2. Or, secondly, they may at once enfranchise the Slaves-a step which they believe would be followed by more suffering and crime than have ever yet been witnessed under the most galling bondage. 3. Or, lastly, they may make provision for their gradual emancipation; and, by the introduction of free labour into the Colonies, afford an example which may lead to the Abolition of Slavery without danger to life or property. The Society have adopted the last of these courses; and, notwithstanding the odium which it has been attempted to cast upon them, they firmly believe that the circumstance of Slave-property being held in trust by a great Religious Corporation may be made the means of conferring the most essential benefits on the Negro Population of the West Indies, and of promoting their ultimate enfranchisement. For what is the true view of the case? A very large body of our fellow-creatures are in a state of Slavery. To emancipate them suddenly and indiscriminately, would only be to injure the objects of our just and charitable solicitude. The possession, therefore, of a trust, which enables the Society to take the lead in a SYSTEMATIC emancipation, and shew what preparatory steps ought to be taken and may be safely taken, is surely nothing of which, as men or as Christians, the Society need be ashamed. If this Estate had never been entrusted to their care, they might, as a Religious Body, have declared their opinion on the duty of a Christian Nation toward its enslaved and unenlightened subjects; but now they have it in their power to testify that opinion by their actions: they can shew that the Negro is capable of instruction, for they have instructed him: they can shew that he is susceptible of the same devotional feelings as ourselves, and may be brought under the controling influence of the same Divine Laws. Again, on the important subject of Marriage, the Society might have felt and expressed themselves strongly without any immediate connexion with the Slave Population; but they are now able to combat the prejudices of the Negro on the spot, and are gradually overcoming them by the arguments of religion and the influence of temporal advantage. On the question of Emancipation, also, the Society, as Trustees of the Codrington Estates, are able not only to suggest a course, but to make the trial themselves, for the satisfaction of others; and to shew the Planters how they may gradually enfranchise their Slaves without destruction to their property. Such is the plan which the Society have been for some years pursuing. The progress which has been made in the Religious and Moral Education of the Slaves, under a system which is carried on in a Day School, a Sunday School, and an Adult School; the instruction afforded by the Chaplain to the Negroes, and his superintendence over them; together with the general system of kindness on which the Plantation is conducted by the Society's Attorney, have been described in their Reports from time to time, and more especially in the Report for 1827-28. To this the Society confidently refer, and add with satisfaction the further confirmation of that statement, to be found in the following extract of a Letter subsequently received from the Bishop of the Diocese, dated June 30, 1830. Report by the Bishop of Barbadoes of the present condition of the Codrington Slaves. About a fortnight since, I spent three days at the College Estate; and had an opportunity of inquiring very particularly into the state of the people, and a few days before I had a very long and satisfactory conversation with Mr. Clarke: I spent Sunday on the Estate, and preached at the Chapel; and took occasion to speak both on Marriage and on the Observance of the Sabbath. The Society will be happy to know, that marriages are becoming more frequent: some of the older and more influential people, who had been long livMarch, 1831. ing together faithfully, set the example; and the younger are beginning to follow it. Every married woman on the Society's Estate has now the whole morning throughout the year to herself till ten o'clock, to put her house in order and prepare her husband's breakfast when he comes from work, or to carry it to him when he is working at a distant part of the Estate: in common with the whole of the Negroes, she has every alternate Saturday throughout the year; and, from what I have heard, and seen myself on the two Saturdays that I was on the Estate, (which happened to be the alternate Saturdays,) no work whatever is done for the Estate. The people are either absent at the market, or working in their own houses or grounds, or visiting their friends at a distance. The day is entirely their own*. I do not believe that the whip is ever carried on the Estate. In passing through it, I have met the head people, but without the whip in their hands. The people appear healthy and cheerful, and especially in the newly-built stone houses are very comfortably provided for. I visited both the School and the Estate a short time since, having taken the under road to the College from Bridge Town; and found the School in very good order, and met the chief driver without the whip. I mention these points, because I know the importance which is justly attached to them at the present moment. I wish the Society and their opponents in the mother country could meet on the Estates, and witness the scene that would there present itself: they would learn, ON INQUIRY, that the people were Slaves and belonging to the Society, but they would behold an industrious and healthy body of labourers-supported entirely by the Estate-born almost to a man on it-never sold from it, but VIRTUALLY attached to the soil, with their Village, Chapel, Hospital, and School-with an excellent Minister moving about among them, and ready to instruct their ignorance and comfort them in sickness-under discipline, but without severity-with many encouragements to do what is right -with the Sunday wholly unbroken in upon by the master or their necessities -with other days wholly at their own It is to be remarked, that the Negroes are supplied with provisions from the Estate: this alternate Saturday may, therefore, be employed by them to their own exclusive advantage. See Appendix to Society's Report for 1827-28, p. 216. S disposal-and with much, which, if they availed themselves of their several privileges, would place very great comfort within their power. I think the Society may and ought to do still more with a view to their moral improvement; and I feel very strongly, that the power of manumitting themselves under certain circumstances would tend very powerfully to promote this object. I do not see what other TEMPORAL stimulus you can apply to the SLAVE, SO well provided for in every other bodily respect as is the Codrington Negro. Further Provisions for the Emancipation of these Slaves. Previously to the receipt of this Letter, the Society, with a view to confirm and perpetuate the improvements already made in the Civil and Religious Condition of the Negroes, and to extend them from time to time as opportunity offers, had drawn up the outline of a plan for carrying these intentions into effect; and having submitted it to the consideration of the Bishop of the Diocese and received his Lordship's observations thereon, the following Resolutions have been unanimously adopted, for the purpose of giving a formal and public sanction to those principles by which for some time past their practice has been regulated. The Society, being desirous of affording all possible encouragement to the Slaves on the Codrington Estates to enter into lawful wedlock, and of connecting it with the great object of their gradual manumission, in order that their religious and moral conduct may lead the way to freedom, have adopted the following REGULATIONS; and their Agricultural Attorney will be instructed to do all in his power to give effect to their benevolent intentions. 1st. Slaves married according to the rites of the Established Church, and continuing to live together, to be entitled to exemption from compulsory labour one day in the week; such privilege to be forfeited by either party who may desert the other, or be guilty of immoral conduct. 2d. All Slaves to be allowed to purchase one or more days' exemption from compulsory labour, until they are completely enfranchised; every encouragement to be given them to employ such day or days with profit and advantage to themselves: the time of exemption from labour thus granted to or purchased by married women, to be so distributed as best to promote domestic habits and the comforts of their families. 3d. A man and his wife to be permitted to purchase their joint freedom, for one or more days, at two-thirds of the price which would be paid for the freedom of the two, if separately purchased. 4th. Freedom, so purchased, to be transmitted as an inheritance, to all the children born in lawful wedlock. 5th. Manumissions to be granted from time to time to such Slaves as shall have recommended themselves to favourable notice by continued good conduct; preference, in case of equally good conduct, being given to those who have purchased for themselves the greatest number of days. 6th. Task labour by the Slaves on the Estate to be adopted as far as is practicable; and returns to be made quarterly to the Society of the extent to which this measure has been carried, and of its results. 7th. Although it appears that the use of the whip in the field, and as an instrument of female punishment, has already been discontinued on the Society's Estates, and that offences are punished by moderate confinement, it is thought right to direct in express ried into the field as a stimulus to labour, or terms-first, that the whip shall not be car as an emblem of authority; and, secondly, that females shall in no case be punished by whipping. 8th. The Manager to insert in a book, kept for the purpose, an account of every punishment, the age and sex of the Slave, the time and place of commission, the extent of punishment, by whom authorised and inflicted, and the witnesses present; an attested copy of the book to be transmitted half-yearly to the Society, through the Bishop of Barbadoes. 9th. The Slaves never to be removed from the Estate by sale. 10th. Writing and arithmetic, as well as reading, to form part of the customary instruction in the Schools on the Estate. 11th. With a view to provide a safe place of deposit for the Savings of the Negroes, the Agricultural Attorney to be directed to take measures for the establishment of a Savings' Bank, under the guaranty of the Society. Such are the chief provisions which have been made for the Moral and Religious Improvement and for the Gradual Emancipation of the Slaves on the Codrington Estates. Many of them, it should be remembered, are now in operation: and the Society are fully pledged to carry the whole of them into effect; and to adopt, from time to time, such further measures as may be likely to accelerate the Complete Emancipation of the Slaves. They are willing to hope, that they may thus be made an instrument of extensive and permanent benefit to all classes of their West-Indian Fellow-subjects, both by the measures which they themselves adopt, and by the example afforded to others of an honest endeavour to satisfy the claims of humanity and religion, and to qualify the Slave for the great blessing of freedom, by lessons which may also prepare him for everlasting happiness in |